UCHealth’s rules for transplants entered the spotlight Tuesday when Colorado state Rep. Tim Geitner (R) said it denied a kidney transplant to a Colorado Springs woman because she was not vaccinated against the coronavirus. The letter said the woman would be “inactivated” on a kidney transplant waiting list and had 30 days to start coronavirus vaccination. But the health system confirmed Tuesday that nearly all of its transplant recipients and organ donors must get vaccinated against the coronavirus, in addition to other vaccinations and health requirements. Geitner also criticized UCHealth for firing unvaccinated staff, who represent less than 1 percent of the health system’s workforce, according to the Denver Post. As covid-19 cases stretch medical resources, being vaccinated can also count against patients in some cases.
